INDEX ON CENSORSHIP

Yep, these alleged protectors of free speech are blaming the victim in the Theo van Gogh murder. Money quote:

Van Gogh’s juvenile shock-horror art finally led him to build an exploitative working relationship with Somalia-born Dutch MP Ayann Hirsi Ali, whose terrible personal experience of abuse has driven her to a traumatizing loss of her Muslim faith. Together they made a furiously provocative film that featured actresses portraying battered Muslim women, naked under transparent Islamic-style shawls, their bodies marked with texts from the Koran that supposedly justify their repression. Van Gogh then roared his Muslim critics into silence with obscenities. An abuse of his right to free speech, it added injury to insult by effectively censoring their moderate views as well.

These are the defenders of free speech? Then there’s this obscenity:

A sensational climax to a lifetime’s public performance, stabbed and shot by a bearded fundamentalist, a message from the killer pinned by a dagger to his chest, Theo van Gogh became a martyr to free expression. His passing was marked by a magnificent barrage of noise as Amsterdam hit the streets to celebrate him in the way the man himself would have truly appreciated. And what timing! Just as his long-awaited biographical film of Pim Fortuyn’s life is ready to screen. Bravo, Theo! Bravo!

The man was murdered for his controversial political views. Murdered. Somehow I don’t think he was intending it to be a publicity stunt. (Hat tip: HurryUpHarry.)

QUOTE FOR THE DAY: “On the one hand side, I meet plenty of people, both Dutch and Muslim, who say they condemn the Van Gogh murder. But. They understand it. On the other hand, I meet a slightly smaller number of people, mainly Dutch and not as many Muslims, who say they don’t want to condone the attacks on mosques. But. They understand it. May I offer a heartfelt raised middle finger to both groups?” – Arjan Dasselar, Dutch blogger. Amen.

HOW MANY CASUALTIES? That 100,000 number for Iraqi civilian deaths seemed fishy to me. The Economist reviews the study.